Supporters in Maine are literally taping over old campaign signs as Democrats race to figure out who will take on Sen. Susan Collins now that Graham Platner is out. With Platner exiting after a sexual assault allegation he denies, the party has less than three weeks to tap a new nominee in a must-win state for Senate control—and the field is full of names voters just rejected in June, reports Politico. Former gubernatorial hopefuls Nirav Shah, Troy Jackson, and Shenna Bellows are all in, joined by House primary losers Jordan Wood and Paige Loud, plus brewer and ex-Senate candidate Dan Kleban. A look, per CBS News and the AP:
- Nirav Shah: The former Maine CDC director is now a senior CDC official in Washington. The scramble is so fast-moving that Shah's WiFi still read "ShahForGovernor" at his Senate kickoff, where ex-Platner volunteers introduced him and homemade "NIRAV" signs covered Platner's name. He came in second in this year's governor's primary and was seen as more of a moderate candidate compared with Jackson while running for governor.
- Shenna Bellows: The Maine secretary of state is a former ACLU of Maine chief. Bellows, 51, just placed fourth in the state's Democratic governor's primary. In 2014, she ran against Collins as the Senate Democratic nominee and lost in a landslide.
- Troy Jackson: The ex-gubernatorial hopeful and former state Senate president is a self-described "pickup truck progressive." Shortly after Platner quit the Senate race, Jackson launched his campaign, arguing that Mainers want "a progressive fighter." Our Revolution, the organization founded by Bernie Sanders, has since said it would back Jackson, 58.
- David Costello: A Bangor native who ran in this year's primary and previously challenged independent Sen. Angus King. Costello finished third behind Platner, and Janet Mills, who was still on the ballot despite having suspended her campaign.
- Dan Kleban: A co-founder of Maine Beer Company. Kleban briefly entered the Senate race last year before dropping out when Mills announced her candidacy. Kleban, 49, endorsed Mills, who later dropped out of the Democratic primary.
- Valli Geiger: A state representative and nurse, Geiger is a former Platner supporter and another potential candidate. She hasn't announced her candidacy, but in an interview with MS NOW on Wednesday, Geiger, 70, said she would hire Platner's staff, whom she described as "deeply impassioned and confident young people."
- Paige Loud: The 29-year-old social worker also ran in the state's 2nd District Democratic primary, but came in last during the state's first round of ranked choice voting.
- Jordan Wood: A former Katie Porter chief of staff who raised more than $5 million in a recent House bid. Wood, 36, initially attempted to run in the Maine Democratic Senate primary last year but dropped out to run in the state's 2nd District. He lost that race, coming in third. He announced his Senate run Thursday.
One thing the would-be Platner replacements largely agree on: Platner had to go, and Collins is the shared November target. Yet many of Platner's progressive backers say they're unenthused about their new options and wary of a rushed process that will rely on 600 unpledged delegates at an unprecedented July 27 convention, notes Politico. Whoever emerges will face a five-term Republican incumbent with more than $10 million in the bank—and a national spotlight on how Maine Democrats handle the chaos.
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